1971 NCAA Basketball Tournament: A Season of Triumphs and Controversies
The 1971 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship Tournament was a pivotal moment in college basketball history, marked by exceptional performances, controversial rulings, and a glimpse into the future of the sport. The 33rd annual edition of the tournament began on March 13, 1971, and concluded with the championship game on March 27, at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. This single-elimination tournament involved 25 schools vying for the national champion title of men's NCAA Division I college basketball.
UCLA's Reign Continues
Coached by the legendary John Wooden, the UCLA Bruins secured their fifth consecutive national title and seventh overall, all within the preceding eight years. Their journey was not without challenges, as they faced stiff competition within their own conference from second-ranked USC, who suffered only two losses, both against UCLA. Additionally, the Bruins experienced a loss at Notre Dame and encountered close calls against teams like Washington, Oregon, and Oregon State.
The final game saw UCLA narrowly defeat Villanova with a score of 68-62. The Bruins' victory, however, was overshadowed by subsequent events that would tarnish the Wildcats' participation.
Key Games and Moments
West Regional Final
In the West Regional final against Long Beach State, UCLA faced a significant deficit, trailing by 11 points midway through the second half. Their star player, Sidney Wicks, was burdened with four personal fouls. However, Wicks returned to the game, avoided his fifth foul, and led the Bruins in a rally to take a 55-53 lead.
Championship Game
In the national championship game, UCLA initially took an early lead, but Villanova's defense proved challenging for star players Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe. Henry Bibby's outside shooting and a career-best 29 points from center Steve Patterson were crucial in maintaining UCLA's advantage. Villanova's Howard Porter and Chris Ford also overcame early difficulties to keep their team competitive.
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Midway through the second half, John Wooden made a strategic decision to employ a four-corner stall offense, a tactic he rarely used. Wooden's intention was to draw Villanova out of their zone defense and to highlight the need for a shot clock in college basketball. However, this strategy nearly backfired as Villanova's aggressive man-to-man defense forced turnovers. Despite the risks, UCLA managed to hold on for the win.
Controversies and Vacated Results
Villanova's Vacated Placement
Howard Porter of Villanova was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. However, Villanova's placement in the tournament was later vacated because it was found that Porter had signed with an agent prior to the competition. Porter's decision was influenced by two previous losses to undefeated, second-ranked Penn, coached by Dick Harter. Porter doubted their chances of advancing past the regionals, where third-ranked South Carolina also posed a threat. Penn defeated South Carolina by 15 points but suffered a significant loss to Villanova in the East Regional final, losing 90-47.
Western Kentucky's Vacated Placement
Western Kentucky's placement in the tournament was also vacated due to an NCAA investigation that revealed Jim McDaniels had signed a professional contract and accepted money during the 1970-71 season. This made the 1971 Final Four officially the first without a school from east of the Mississippi River. Western Kentucky faced further violations in the following decade, ultimately earning the school a "lack of institutional control" violation.
Penn Quakers
As a result of Villanova's forfeit to Penn, the 1971 Penn Quakers technically went undefeated but did not win the national championship. Villanova and Western Kentucky became the first two teams to have an officially vacated NCAA Final Four result due to rules violations.
Other Notable Facts
The total attendance for the tournament reached a new record of 220,447.
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The W's National Championship
Notably, before the rise of the AIAW and the NCAA's adoption of women's athletics, The W (Mississippi University for Women) won the 1971 National Invitational Women's Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament national championship. Playing as the Blues, the team triumphed in the NIT tourney, defeating prominent programs such as defending champion Cal State-Fullerton, East Stroudsburg State, North Carolina-Greensboro, and West Chester State. The Blues outscored their opponents by a 1400-to-1073 margin, an average of 13.6 points per game.
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